Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-12-31

forever"
you've made the voyage very pleasant
for me-"
That's right. 1t does me good to fancy
| have been of Use to somebody. | wish
you were going on further"
II wish so, too" she said, naively.
"And yet that is not quite as it ought to
be. Shouldn't you be all anxiety to see
the gentleman you have come ont to
marry %
Miss Robinson's speech had slipped out
unawares. She made an effort to remedy
the mistake she had made.
| am very anxious" she said gravely,
" but when / spoke | only thought of the
sea, and how much here she hesitated-
" / have enjoyed everything"
There was pause.
al shall often think" he said, "over
lots OF the things you have said to me-
You must sometimes cast thought my
way, too"
"That you may be sure l shall do
i WISH" he began, that 1 could ask
you something, and feel sure you wouldn't
be offended by it."
i promise not to take ofiense at what
ever you may say. What is it you want to
know p'
"Well, you know you said you had not
seen this gentleman for many years, and
you seem surprised that he should remem-
Der you. What made you accept him, and
make up your mind to go out to him? /
| can't cit it in with you. 1t isn't what |
should have expected"
Miss Julia flushed so that the color in
her face was even visible in the dim
light.
"No," he said hurriedly, don't an
swer me. Forgive me for putting the
question; I-I-Well, don't take any no
tice of me-"
"Yes, but l intend to tell you. Years
ago, when / was younger, l had many
offers of marriage made me, but / always
did not care for anybody. l suppose l
forgot that l was growing old. l thought
the right person had not come"
"And he-this one is the right person ~
he said, interrupting her.
Il hope he will be. l intend to try and
make him so. When his letter came was
very disconnected, getting soured because
nobody wanted me; | could not be of use
to any one. | mean to try with might and
main to make him happy" She said this
| very ISoOlutelJ. L MTOle 10 MIN nrSl,
and told him that, of course, years had
made great alteration in me, and he sent
back the most generous reply. / should
be more than ungrateful if l did not strive
to the very utmost to make him perfectly
happy"
Captain Stewart, earnestly. Hes lucky
fellow; | envy him with heart and soup-
and he sighed deeply.
| Will you promise me that if you should
find some nice woman you think would
make you happy, you will write and tell
me? / should like to rejoice with you"
Captain Stewart shook his head.
at is impossible, you think? l can
well understand you feel so now; but,
mercifully, Time is great softener of
| trouble"
1t is not quite that. l loved the poor
little soul who is gone dearly, and there
was nothing / would not have done to
keep her with me; but-well, you see,
she had been married before, and though
she tried with all her might to care for me,
she couldn't give me heart that was
buried in grave. | never blamed her. l
should do the same if it was to come over
again. She was so helpless, friendless,
stranded, with not a creature to hold out a
hand to her. No; thank God | did as
did. She constantly said she couldn't do
without me. Almost her last words were:
Your reward will come, John. You have
been so good to me- She had sweet, I'M
selfish nature, dear little soul, and her
troubles had been very heavy. There"
he added, after minutes pause, ''now you
know my story"
| Thank you,n she said simply, for hav-
ing told me- / believe, with her, that the
reward for your generosity is certain to
come"
| He shook his head.
| "Ah, well, of that Pm not so sure-not
in the sense mean. The entire affection
of some nice, good woman-that is the
only thing of value to me. Pm comfort
ably off; | need not go to sea if I'd any one
to stop ashore for"
Miss Julia smiled
Take heart" she said, and there was a
little tremor in her voice as she spoke
the right person will yet come in your
way, and she will be very fortunate wo-
man."
"Ah, Miss Robinson" he said, q" some
things always seem to go contrary, and
some people are always the day after the
fair. Goodnight and good-by, for 1 feel
it is good-by to you. God bless you, wher-
ever you are"
| Two days later they reached Bombay.
Mr.. Penberthy came to meet his intended
bride, and amid ELUSIVE good wishes and
waving of hands-for the surroundings of
the gentleman favorably impressed the
passengers Robinson and he left the
ship.
Miss Julia always averred that from the
very first moment Mr.. Penberth's eyes met
hers a conviction seized her that in coming
out to him she had committed a grlevous
error.
Very little did she ever say about what
took place, and all that could be learned of
the matter came from the report of third
person.
These facts, at all events, are certain
that having taken her to the house from
which the marriage was to take place, Mr..
Penberthy requested her to grant him an
interview. From this interview Miss Julia
emerged pale, agitated, but resolute and
full of dignity Presenting herself to the
| lady of the house, she simply said that Mr..
Penberthy and she found they were in no
way suited to each other.
81 was most ill-judged," she added,
after so long a separation, to think of
coming out here"
But the thing is impossible" was her
hostess reply. Am | to understand that
you refuse to marry Mr.. Penberthy ~
| Miss Julia hesitated.
1t is not exactly that way but l fully
realize how altered | am since he's saw me-
| believe then l was a nice-looking young
girl, but never the beauty he supposes me
to have been. The miniature, it is true,
was thought like me then; but you know
how these things fatter one"
"But, my dear lady, even in personal
| advantages you have fifty thousand more
than Mr.. Penberthy ever could have had.
Such slight-and in my house, too l
look upon it as positive insult to me. l
must insist on an explanation. If he has
got his senses we must bring him to them"
| But Miss Robinson entreated her to let
| The matter be.
Nothing now," she said, "would induce
me to alter my decision. 1t is true that
did not make the obstacle; but that being
raised has swept ali my intentions away
We both deceived ourselves; l in exagger-
ating his constancy, and he in idealizing
| me into a beauty. / am most to blame